A few things they all have in common, are:
- they are all herbivores;
- they have hooves;
- they have horns (in some species only the males);
- they have scent glands to mark their territories and also use it for recognising one another, sexual attraction and order within the herd;
they have a strong sense of smell and also a very well developed sense of hearing to help them be constantly aware of possible dangers.
Different species adapt to life in different kinds of habitat.
Lechwe and waterbuck are always found in or near water while the oryx (gemsbok) live in arid areas and can derive all the moisture it needs from its food for long periods of time.
Some antelope, like the small steenbok, have short straight horns while others, like the majestic greater kudu have long (in the case of the kudu, spiralled) horns. The main purpose of antelope horns is defence against predators, but the males also use it when fighting against each other for territory.
Getting Great Antelope Pictures
The most remarkable antelope pictures are those which depict their behaviour. It can make a subject as common as the impala or wildebeest, interesting.
So for that prize winning antelope picture, try and catch an impala with an oxpecker bird busy eating ticks off its host, kudu bulls fighting or a gerenuk on its hind legs, eating leaves that no other antelope can reach for memorable safari photos.
Who can resist the beautiful large eyes of a baby antelope staring straight into the camera?
